I'm looking for a manhwa where the MC is non-human and the ML is human.
LITTLE MUSHROOM
Okay, here we go.
I've had a lot on my mind this week, and since we're all part of this community, I wanted to share some thoughts. Maybe some of you will relate, and maybe some of you won't. I think when you have opinions that aren't very popular, or you notice things that don't seem to bother most readers, it can be intimidating to talk about them because you feel like you'll be the only one. But I've found that even with some of my less popular takes, there's usually at least one or two people who agree. So maybe I'm not completely alone.
Anyway, here's what's been on my mind.
I love romance. I'm a romance girl through and through. Sometimes I'll be watching an action series, reading a thriller, or consuming a story that isn't romance-focused, and I'll find myself wishing there was at least a little bit of romance. Not because every story needs it, but because sometimes the chemistry is right there and it feels like it would fit so well.
The problem is that the more romance I've consumed over the years, the harder it has become for me to enjoy it.
I think once you've read enough books, watched enough movies and dramas, and spent enough time engaging with stories, you start figuring out exactly what you like and what you don't. Sometimes it's specific things, and sometimes it's broader patterns. The downside is that eventually you start noticing the same plots, the same character dynamics, and the same tropes being recycled over and over again.
I love when authors take a familiar trope and give it a fresh twist. I remember reading a Wattpad story years ago where, instead of the typical "best friend's brother" trope, it was the best friend's cousin. It's a small change, but it felt refreshing because it wasn't exactly the same thing I'd seen a hundred times before.
I've also noticed that as I've gotten older, a lot of romance tropes that I used to tolerate have become things I actively dislike.
For example, I've completely lost interest in the whole "she can fix him" narrative. The bad boy who becomes a good man because of love. The toxic guy who gets chosen over the healthier option because the author wants to give him a redemption arc. The love triangle where the emotionally manipulative character wins because he's more dramatic.
I just can't get invested in those stories anymore.
I think everyone has their own idea of what chemistry and love should look like. For me, love is built on mutual respect. It's not about power imbalances, possessiveness, obsession, control, or emotional dependency. Because of that, a lot of romance stories simply don't work for me.
That's probably why I've never really been a dark romance reader. I've read some dark romance before, but a lot of newer stories don't even feel romantic to me anymore. They just feel abusive. Of course, everyone has different preferences, and that's completely fine. It's just not something I enjoy.
Another thing I've realized is that this doesn't just apply to romance tropes. It also applies to how characters are written.
I've never really understood the idea that a character has to be deeply flawed, extremely relatable, or have a tragic backstory in order to be interesting. Personally, I don't need to relate to a character to enjoy them. A character can have a completely different life experience from mine and still be compelling to read about.
Likewise, I don't think every character needs a devastating backstory. They don't all need to be orphans, survivors of severe bullying, victims of betrayal, or people carrying years of trauma. Those stories absolutely have their place, but sometimes it feels like writers rely on tragedy as a shortcut to make readers care.
The reality is that not everyone goes through something life-altering, and that doesn't make them less interesting. Some people have relatively normal lives and still have fascinating personalities, relationships, goals, and struggles. When a writer can create a character who doesn't have an overwhelmingly tragic past and still make them engaging, relatable, or memorable, I actually find that more impressive.
Maybe that's also why I get frustrated when stories introduce certain character choices that feel unnecessary. There have been so many times when I've really liked a character, only for the story to take them in a direction that completely changes how I see them.
For example, in Lucky Paradise, I really liked the top and I was happy he was chosen in the end. But then there were chapters, especially in some of the side stories, where he treated his friend horribly and almost got physical with him. After that, I found myself liking him a lot less.
Or in Dangerous Convenience Store. I never finished it, but I know the top disappears for a while, comes back, and by that point the bottom is dating someone else. Maybe the boyfriend wasn't perfect, and maybe readers can justify why the relationship wasn't great, but the fact remains that he was still in a relationship. Then the story introduces cheating because we're supposed to root for the main couple anyway. That completely took me out of it.
I think that's part of the reason I struggle with a lot of romances these days. It's not necessarily that the characters are flawed. I actually like flawed characters. It's when the story expects me to overlook behavior that I personally find difficult to excuse just because they're the main couple or because they're destined to end up together.
There are so many stories where I'll really enjoy a character in the beginning, and then they'll do one thing, or the relationship dynamic will shift in a certain direction, and suddenly I'm asking myself, "Why did the author have to do that?"
That's also why I don't usually enjoy relationships built on major imbalances. The classic example is the older, wealthier, more experienced man paired with the extremely naive, innocent girl. He's her first love, her first relationship, sometimes even her first everything, while he's had years of experience.
That dynamic has always made me uncomfortable because it feels like the relationship starts with one person having significantly more power than the other.
I also dislike when authors use a character's first romantic or sexual experience as a way of permanently tying them to someone. Sometimes it creates this feeling that the character can't move on because that person was their first. As a reader, it can make the relationship feel less like a choice and more like a trap.
That's also part of why I'm not usually drawn to first-love stories. Sometimes they're cute, but I don't like when "first love" gets treated as if it should outweigh everything else, including unhealthy behavior. Being someone's first doesn't mean they should automatically be their forever person.
All of this has made it surprisingly difficult to find romance stories that I genuinely enjoy these days.
One of the last romances I really loved was Guildmate Next Door. It was cute. There was some tension, some misunderstandings, and a bit of the enemies-to-lovers energy, but it never crossed into the kind of toxicity that completely takes me out of the story. I also really enjoyed Maybe Netkama Punch for similar reasons.
I think people sometimes assume that healthy relationships are boring, but I don't agree. A story doesn't need extreme toxicity, obsession, manipulation, or constant drama to create tension. You can still have conflict, chemistry, emotional stakes, and excitement without making the relationship itself unhealthy.
So lately I've been thinking a lot about all of this. Maybe it's just part of getting older. Maybe my tastes have changed. But I've definitely reached a point where a lot of romance media just isn't hitting the same way anymore, and it's frustrating because I still love romance as a genre.
Anyway, that's my ramble for today. I have another related topic I've been thinking about, but that's a conversation for another post.
Can someone leave a summary of this pls :) I can’t read it all
You should make a list of your favorite romances. It seems like you have good taste.
I still love romance, but the more romance I've consumed over the years, the harder it has become for me to enjoy. After reading so many books and watching so many shows, I've become much more aware of the tropes, character dynamics, and story patterns that get repeated over and over again. I don't mind familiar tropes, but I appreciate when authors find ways to make them feel fresh.
As I've gotten older, I've also found myself losing patience with certain romance conventions. I no longer enjoy "she can fix him" stories, toxic love interests who get rewarded with redemption arcs, manipulative characters who win love triangles, or relationships built on unhealthy dynamics. For me, love should be based on mutual respect rather than possessiveness, control, obsession, or emotional dependency. That's one reason why a lot of dark romance doesn't work for me.
I also don't think characters need tragic backstories, extreme flaws, or highly relatable experiences to be interesting. Sometimes it feels like writers use trauma as a shortcut to make readers care, when in reality people with relatively normal lives can still be fascinating. I often find it more impressive when an author creates a compelling character without relying on overwhelming tragedy.
Another thing that frustrates me is when stories take characters I genuinely like and push them in directions that make me lose respect for them. Whether it's cheating, cruelty, aggression, or behavior that feels unnecessarily toxic, there have been many times when a story has completely lost me because it expected me to excuse actions I personally find difficult to overlook.
I also tend to dislike romances built on major power imbalances, such as relationships where one person is significantly older, wealthier, or more experienced than the other. Similarly, I don't like when first love or first experiences are treated as if they automatically make someone the right person forever. I prefer relationships that feel like an active choice rather than an obligation.
Even though I've become more selective, I haven't fallen out of love with romance. What I'm looking for now is romance with genuine chemistry, emotional stakes, and meaningful conflict without relying on toxicity or unhealthy relationship dynamics. Stories can be exciting, dramatic, and emotionally engaging without making the relationship itself unhealthy, and those are the romances I find myself enjoying the most these days.
Thank you. I'll try to make a list.
So far, I like:
- Netkama Punch
- Guildmate Next Door
- Hyung, You're My Idol (I read this a long time ago, so I'm not sure if I would still like it. I don't have any plans to reread it, though.)
- Love Shuttle
- Sign
- Punch Drunk Love
I've noticed that I tend to enjoy stories that stay focused on the main couple, even when the relationship itself is toxic. What I don't like is when authors bring in another character purely to create conflict or tension. If a love triangle is used only as a plot device, it often feels like weak writing to me, especially when one couple already has an established history.
I don't mind it as much when everyone involved has an equal chance. For example, if the bottom has known both tops for the same amount of time, then I think the situation feels more balanced. But I still would much rather avoid them
What matters most to me is that the story remains focused on the relationship between the main couple. That's why I can enjoy toxic stories like Jinx or Painter of the Night, even though they get a lot of criticism. The toxicity isn't what bothers me. It's when the story starts relying on outside characters to manufacture drama between the leads.
That said, I was really disappointed by Jinx's ending. I went in expecting something much stronger and more satisfying.
Yep, that’s basically how experience goes. The more of the same content you consume the more you start knowing how it’s going to go. I read somewhere that all stories follow some set of framework/series of events. The art is in finding a good story that doesn’t make it obvious.
Also, we be getting mature yk. Some things just don’t hit the same when you’re 15 vs 20
(I didnt read all OP’s post, just got the vague idea)
Yeah that's true, it's just frustrating cause I hate everything. It's so hard to find stories that fit my taste.
I js finished reading this whole thing btw and I can relate cause when I used to read fanfictions on wattpad and sometimes on YouTube I used to enjoy the romance although it ws js man being in control of everything js like u said he has more experience so he's in the more power while the girl is all innocent and fragile after reading it again again I started finding it boring bec it ws the same thing with js a lil difference in them it's not like if we consume romance so we become tired of it it's js when reading it again n again we can already guess the plots became the author gives the badly boy the chance I ws a dark romance girlie I used to justify the abusive and toxic relationships even tho and moreover I have read many stories where the ml has traumatic or devastating past so we can justify his behaviour and I used the think the same when I read those stories like there isn't a single human with normal past or anything but I enjoyed them and js like she said the older I become I didn't liked the same thing and even tho it's a peak manhwa or anything if I don't want to read I won't if it doesn't match with my choice also she mentioned the addition of a third wheel or more like a character that wasn't necessary anddd there is some times when the author make us to tolerate the behavior that doesn't sit with us right and the author makes the love story like he ws his first love and even after 10 years he's in love with him and blah blah but simply it doesn't matter if it ws his first love or last love they make it like the first love should outweigh anything in this world I have also read "guildmate next door" it ws a light read for me I sometimes enjoy reading dark romance but mostly times I'll run back to my light read and also I've been in a relationship trust me it's different than I imagine bec in that time dark romance ws on peak so I told him and he did kinda act obsessive and possessive and I liked it but healthy relationships are the best bro sometimes it can be obsessive and dominant type but u can't bear with a person like that all the time sadly we broke up
Here is the whole summary and my opinion too I couldn't cover the whole summary but I can relate with her (=・ω・=)
bad boy *╥﹏╥
One thing that will never stop fascinating me is how differently some authors and readers treat consent depending on who the character is.
What confuses me is the logic behind it. If a character ignores a clear boundary, why does it suddenly become romantic, sexy, or excusable when it's the ML? Yet when a different character does the exact same thing, it's treated as unacceptable. I genuinely don't understand where the line is supposed to be.
I've seen readers do the same thing. In one manhwa, the MC explicitly tells the ML not to finish inside them, and the ML does it anyway. The amount of people defending it with, "That's just their dynamic," was unreal. What made it even funnier was seeing some of those same people in another comment section condemning a different character for doing essentially the same thing, simply because they didn't like them.
And I already know what some people will say: "But it's the ML. That's who we're supposed to root for." Okay, then just admit your standards change depending on whether you like the character. Don't pretend it's a moral issue when your reaction is based entirely on who's doing it.
What I find equally strange is people who constantly complain about tropes that supposedly go against their morals, yet keep seeking out stories built around those exact tropes. If you know a story contains cheating, assault, toxic relationships, or whatever else you claim to hate, and you keep reading dozens of stories with those themes, then at some point you're choosing to engage with that content.
The hypocrisy is genuinely out of this world. Make it make sense.
TW- This is a long rant
This is literally so real cuz the fuckery in the manhwa community (and other communities) is actually getting tiring. I feel like it's the fault of the author more than readers cuz they chose to make this stuff. Even if they said they don't condone these actions, they treat real world problems like it's fiction. Cuz literally, when you make a story, or art, or song or whatever, your brain subconsciously ads pieces of your likes and worldview into whatever you are making. So even if they say they don't condone these actions, they honestly do, and what's worse is that they get off to this stuff! For example, Mingwa. Author and story writer for Jinx. It is very well known to be a toxic and abusive story. So when she was asked about her favorite sex scene, she said she thought all of them were hot. Jaekyung (the ML) raped and sexually abused Kim Dan (the MC) for most of those scenes. And also, in KD's past, he was sexually assaulted by a coworker. All the readers hated him. But when Jaekyung does it, it's supposedly "sexy" and "hot." You are right saying fans are hypocritical. Because this is pure hypocrisy. This might also have to do with how handsome the character looks too. That coworker was an old man and nobody liked him, but Jaekyung was a handsome young and ripped boxer. Even if he's "hot" it doesn't mean his actions should be excused?? Seriously, there are no educated fans in this fandom and I am ashamed to say I am a fujoshi alongside those dumbfucks
Exactly. What's even funnier is that sometimes both characters are conventionally attractive, yet people will condemn one character's actions while excusing the other's. At that point, it becomes obvious that the standards aren't consistent.
Assault and consent violations are so common in manhwa that I genuinely don't think some readers understand what those terms actually mean. If it's violent or physically forceful, people immediately recognize it as assault. But when it's coercion, manipulation, pressure, or ignoring someone's boundaries, suddenly the discussion becomes a lot more selective.
Take Hit Me Hard, for example. The ML assaults the MC, yet I've seen people brush it aside because he's shy, cute, and likable. Then you have stories like Dangerous Convenience Store, where there are clear elements of coercion, but because people like the characters or the relationship, those aspects often get overlooked or downplayed.
The inconsistency is honestly funny to watch.
Speaking of Dangerous Convenience Store, this is probably an unpopular opinion, but it's one of the reasons I ended up dropping the story.
During the time skip, the MC gets a boyfriend. Then the ML comes back into the picture, and the MC sleeps with him while still in that relationship. They had not broken up yet. From the spoilers I've seen, the boyfriend apparently wasn't that great, which is another trope that annoys me. I hate when authors make another character look bad just to make the ML seem better or to justify the ML's actions.
What really bothered me was how many readers immediately excused the cheating because it involved the ML and the MC, the couple they were rooting for from the beginning. I don't care if they're the endgame couple. I don't care if the boyfriend turns out to be a terrible partner. It's still cheating.
That's the pattern I keep noticing. People will condemn certain behaviors until their favorite character does them. Then suddenly there are explanations, excuses, and exceptions for everything.
Omg finally someone talks another Hit Me Hard. Literally that first scene WAS sexual assault yet people still love it. I really liked the art style and I liked the dynamics after that but I honestly can't bring myself to enjoy it a lot because of the first scene. Like I was involved in the plot but I was like forcing myself to enjoy the relationship and that doesn't give a good experience. I've never read the Dangerous Convenience Store but I expected something like that. I genuinely hate how side characters only exist solely for the main relationship, and they have no personality other than being good or bad. I wish side characters are shown more because I don't want to see the shitty main leads fuck each other unconsentually
Right!! People condoning it are so strange. It's okay to still read the story and enjoy it but just acknowledge that was rape instead of saying its not.
The leads in dangerous convenience store are not that shitty to be honest. I didnt finish it but I liked the ML and the MC, the reason I dropped it was because the author used the cheating trope. I was rooting for them until that. I dont understand why writers like to romanticize cheating. Its gross.
Yeah that's actually messed up. I also hate it when the MC/ML like dates a girl after a breakup or smth but they still like the MC/ML so they just don't acknowledge the girl anymore and the girls feelings are hurt and the girl is against them. The thing is tho like, the girls feelings are valid and idk why she's so villainized. And if a girl gets between the relationship of the two MCs everyone hates on the girl. It's clearly misogynistic. There was this tiktok I saw with the girl in Codename Anastasia (btw I don't like CA too cuz of the SA) and everyone is hating on the girl saying "oh i don't like women in my bl story" or "I'm allergic to women in stories". It REEKED of misogyny in there . Why cant people have common sense anymore I hate the yaoi fandom so much because of this, even if I love yaoi.
YESSS!! this annoys me so much as well, it's very rare to see a well written female character in a BL manhwa. So true about the misogyny, so gross!
What's a trope you loved when you were younger but don't enjoy as much now?
For me, it's redemption arcs. I still love a well-written redemption arc, but as I've gotten older, I find myself wanting the MC to move on instead of taking their love interest back. Sometimes the damage is done, and I'd rather see the MC choose themselves and start over than forgive everything just because the other person has changed.
miscommunication
Love triangles
Enemies to lovers
enemies to lovers, its not that i hate it but childhood friends to lovers is just better
I hate it because authors dont write it well. Its still one ot my favorite tropes
We are kinda the opposite. Im not the biggest fan of friends to lovers but I also categorize it different
Like this:
Best friends to lovers - hate jt
Childhood friends to lovers - not my go to trope but I dont mind it.
But I have to disagree enemies to lovers will always be more superior especially when authors know how to write it well
Hmmm well when I was rlly young, like 2nd grade I used to watch like SO much gacha bl stories and I would REALLY REALLY love like omegaverse and like just generally stuff where one gets into heat and now I lowkey dont like it
I've realized I could never be a writer because none of my characters would be toxic. My ML would respect the MC's boundaries. If they say no, that's the end of it. No wrist grabbing, no ignoring consent, no treating them badly and calling it romance.
But that brings me to my question. For example, a lot of people consider Dooshik a green flag, but I don't. The whole revenge rape situation completely ruined the character for me.
When I think of a green flag, I think of someone who is kind to everyone, not just the person they love. I like characters who are genuinely good people, but it's still obvious that the MC is special to them. That's much more romantic to me than the whole "I hate everyone but you" trope.
Maybe that's why I struggle with so many popular MLs. A lot of readers seem to view possessiveness, jealousy, or obsessive behavior as romantic, while I just find it uncomfortable.
What do you guys think? What makes a character a genuine green flag in your eyes?
https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/our_sunny_days/ this one is the definition for me
Yes I heard about him, but when its a single parent love story, I always like the uke to be older, but in this one he isnt, so I didn't read i.
OMG GIRL SAME i REALLY LOVE WHEN ML respects boundaries, takes accountability when they're wrong, and is kind not just to the MC but to other people too. I love when ML gradually opens up and showers the person they love with affection instead of treating toxicity, possessiveness, and obsession as romance.
Read it pls TuT its so worth it and they are both green flags :)
WDYM? Some of the best writing has green flags—The Third Ending; Pizza Guy and the Golden Palace; Ways of Parting; Shinigami wa Korosenai; Define The Relationship; and To Me Who Doesn’t Love You.
I'll be honest I'm not gonna read it for the reason I mentioned above. They probably are green flag.
Exactly , I agree with every point of yours especially this part "I like characters who are genuinely good people, but it's still obvious that the MC is special to them" when i say this to people they are like whats wrong with treating your patner special etc etc but yeah treat them good but why be like that to others ? idk how many i dropped because ml was like "i treat every one like an asshole but you"
https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/honey_bear/ this one definitely
i also kinda have problem with leads being married previously or have children , but here you dont notice it at all, i went into story without that knowledge , but the story was good enough for me not to leave after realising it , so just give it a try...
The ML in Honey Bear totally fits the description you gave, Geonwoo.
WAIT THE MC OF OUR SUNNY DAYS ISN'T THE UKE WHAT??? I've been avoiding it bc I don't really like to read popular mainstream stuff but now I'm highkey interested since this breaks my preconceived notion of it
I dont have a problem with that. I actually like stories with single parents who find love again.
Im saying I dont like when the dynamic is younger uke and older seme. In this one the seme is older.
Yes. I LOVE HIM, such a cutie pie
Ohh is that so... But I am telling you for a long time I thought ML was younger , he is just sooo cute and if I have to say Uke is the dominant one relationship and mature too , but yeah if you don't like it i understand
I don't get people who think using the block button means you're a coward or scared. If I block someone, it's because I don't want to waste my time engaging with them. I'd rather spend my time talking to people who share my opinion on a story so we can discuss theories, characters, and the actual plot.
What I find even weirder are the people who get blocked and then make a separate comment just to reply to you. Like, bruh, that's embarrassing. I blocked you. I'm not going to go searching through the comment section to see if you said something about me. The whole point of blocking someone is that I no longer want to interact with them.
People act like blocking is some kind of defeat when really it's just curating your own online experience. Not every disagreement needs to turn into a debate, and not everyone is entitled to your time or attention.
Exactly. People think getting blocked means they "won the argument" when most of the time it just means the other person is done wasting their time.
Exactly! Its like they think we are scared. No we just dont want to chat with you and I assume people on here are very young or old but super immature.
Kinda wish manago turned off the comments again or alteast give us an option to disable them
People who think blocking is about winning or losing need to grow up and move beyond the countless days of keyboard spamming. I've seen the people who say they don't block because they consider it "losing" and they're also so cocky about being able to go on arguments for days until the other person blocks them. It's immaturity.
I don't get people who think using the block button means you're a coward or scared. If I block someone, it's because I don't want to waste my time engaging with them. I'd rather spend my time talking to people who share my opinion on a story so we can discuss theories, characters, and the actual plot.
What I find even weirder are the people who get blocked and then make a separate comment just to reply to you. Like, bruh, that's embarrassing. I blocked you. I'm not going to go searching through the comment section to see if you said something about me. The whole point of blocking someone is that I no longer want to interact with them.
People act like blocking is some kind of defeat when really it's just curating your own online experience. Not every disagreement needs to turn into a debate, and not everyone is entitled to your time or attention.
How do I stop myself from going back to manhwas I hate? I'm weak.
Sometimes I'll read a manhwa that annoys me so much it genuinely ruins my day, yet I keep going back. I'll read the comments, check for spoilers, or scroll through new chapters even though I already know it's only going to make me more frustrated.
The biggest examples for me are Non Zero Sum and Love Junkie. I hate those stories so much, especially because I know the endings are complete garbage, yet I still find myself checking up on them. It's like I'm deliberately upsetting myself.
Part of me is still delusional enough to hope the manhwa will change the ending, even when I know that's probably not going to happen. I keep telling myself, "Maybe this time it'll be different," and then I end up disappointed all over again.
No because i feel you, steel of the silk and heart of the lotus have sm non con but its like something i cant stop reading lol. Its like each chapter leaves u on a like cliffhanger and for me i have to know what the ml is going to do next. For me the only way i stopped going back was to stop thinking and think to myself like if i should?
Another thing that might work is really thinking about your morals when reading it. I did it for a non con manga that i was really obsessed and i got icked out and dropped it lol
Me with slammer dogs and heart of the lotus.. I somehow dropped others even though I’ve read half of the chapters but I can’t drop those 2…
You have to learn to love yourself and see that you deserve better than slop seek inner peace
Skip chapters
The uke is a gangster and he has to collect semen of his boss son. Who is kept locked up cause he is crazy. Seme has white or blonde hair and uke has dark hair
I think it’s "Talisman"
Thank you
I don't know what BL this is but wtf do you mean the uke has to collect SEMEN
Talisman (mentioned above)
I know bro, I'm just surprised there's even a plot like thatΣ( ￣□￣||)
I'm looking for manhwas with older woman x younger man. With small age gaps (1 to 6 years)
WOMAN MUST BE OLDER PLEASE. I don't like when the man is older. Bonus if he thinks she's younger
and please NO stories that include step siblings, cheating or love triangles